ALSChat: AAC Letter Board

ALSChat is a free, browser-based communication board built for people whose speech or fine motor control has been affected by ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and similar conditions.

TWO WAYS TO TYPE

1. Manual Mode
A caregiver sits facing the patient, watches which direction the patient's eyes point, and taps the matching group/letter. No camera is needed.

2. Semi-automatic Mode (blink scanning)
The patient can use this alone, without a caregiver right next to them — only a front-facing camera is required. Groups and letters highlight one at a time; the patient blinks for about half a second to confirm.

12 languages, one layout
The same circular layout adapts to Korean (with full 자음/모음 syllable composition), English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Arabic, German, Vietnamese, Russian, Japanese, Chinese (Pinyin), and Hindi — so the same device can serve a multilingual household or care team.

Quick phrases & word prediction
Common phrases like "thank you" or "I need help" are one tap away, and the board suggests likely words and follow-up phrases as a sentence is typed, cutting down the number of selections needed for everyday communication.

Spoken output & history
Finished text can be read aloud using the device's built-in text-to-speech, and previously spoken phrases are saved locally so frequently repeated messages are easy to find again.

WHO IT IS FOR
ALSChat is designed primarily for people living with ALS, but the same circular, scan-friendly layout can help anyone with a condition that limits speech or fine motor control, including other motor neuron diseases, cerebral palsy, or recovery from a stroke. It's also built with caregivers and family members in mind, who are often the ones setting up a device for a loved one under time pressure.

PRIVATE BY DESIGN
Blink detection for semi-automatic mode runs entirely on the device. Camera video is never recorded, uploaded, or sent anywhere. Everything typed stays in local storage on your device.

WHAT ALSCHAT IS NOT
ALSChat is a communication aid, not a medical device and not a substitute for a full clinical AAC evaluation. Speech-language pathologists can assess eye-gaze hardware, switch access, and mounting solutions tailored to how a specific person's condition progresses — we'd always encourage getting that evaluation in parallel with trying a free tool like this one.